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Time magazine was the first publication to announce its decision to include the malaria vaccine in its New Year list of medical breakthroughs. A few days later, the prestigious scientific journal Science also recognized the advance. Both publications chose the RTS,S malaria vaccine as one of the ten most important scientific advances of 2011. The decision made by these two influential publications reflects the scientific community’s recognition of a vaccine which, despite its moderate effectiveness, nonetheless represents an unprecedented breakthrough in the complex struggle against the parasite that causes over 650,000 deaths a year. The RTS,S vaccine against malaria is a long term research where IDIBAPS – Hospital Clínic International Heath research team played a key role. This research in international health issues became a reference centre called Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), led by Dr. Pedro Alonso.